Cornish Rex

History of the Cornish Rex breed

Few people know that the world could see a new breed much earlier than in the middle of the XX century. A few years earlier, its first representative was seen in Berlin near one of the hospitals. Passers-by did not pay due attention to either the charm of the kitten or its short curly fur: the post-war years forced the Germans to think about more important things than a homeless, albeit unusual, animal. For this reason, the Cornish Rex breed officially began its existence in 1950, and the reason for this is an ordinary accident.

On a July morning, Nina Ennismore, the owner of a small farm near the village of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, was waiting for a surprise in the face of an unusual kitten that was radically different from its litter counterparts. While the four-legged inhabitants of English farms had a dense woolen coat, a round head and an impressive backbone, the newborn baby became the owner of curly hair, a flexible body and a wedge-shaped head. The locator ears gave the kitten a resemblance to a representative of an extraterrestrial civilization, and the chosen nickname was no less eccentric: the baby was called a Calibunker.

Miss Ennismore was fascinated by the new ward, seeing in him something more than a pronounced mutation. However, because of her short-sightedness, the woman almost gave up on the cornish rex, deciding to take the grown-up pet to castration. Fortunately, the veterinarian Nina turned to had a solid body of knowledge in the field of genetics and saw in the Calibunker a possible progenitor of a new breed. Having listened to the doctor's recommendations, Miss Ennismore turned to the breeders who at that time enjoyed authority and were highly respected people – A. K. Judu and B. Stirling to Webb.

Dr. Jude confirmed the words of the veterinarian: The Calibunker is the first representative of a new breed that is fundamentally different from those already registered. Responsibility for its development fell on the shoulders of Nina Ennismore, who came up with the name – Cornish rex. The first part of the word pointed to the birthplace of the breed, while the second did not speak of an aristocratic origin, but served as a kind of reference to the woman's former activities. So, she bred Astrex rabbits, which, like Calibunker, had curly fur.

The first thing Jude and Stirling-Webb suggested was to test the mutation of the kitten for resistance. When the animal reached puberty, Miss Ennismore crossed it with her mother Serena, who was an ordinary mongrel cat. As a result of mating, three kittens were born, two of which had the same remarkable appearance as the Calibunker. Unfortunately, only one of them survived, later named Poldu.

Nina continued the experiment of crossing Serena with two cats, while noting the percentage of "curls" to smooth-haired kittens. It was 55% in favor of the rex babies. This served as a clear evidence of the recessive type of inheritance: the signs characteristic of the future breed were manifested if both parents were its carriers.

Six years after the start of breeding, Nina Ennismore faced financial problems, which made breeding cats difficult. First of all, this affected Serena and Kalibunker, who suffered a cruel fate. Formerly beloved by a woman, the cats were euthanized at the request of their own mistress. A similar fate awaited Cornish Polda, if not for the timely intervention of Stirling-Webb, who bought the cat and continued working on the breed on his own. However, this decision also had unpleasant, almost fatal consequences. When taking the fabric, Poldu was castrated by negligence. The only surviving representative of the breed by 1960 was Sham Payne Charlie, who later began to be crossed with other cats. Cornish rexes were officially registered in the UK seven years later.

However, the Foggy Albion was not the only haven of the new breed. In 1957, Frances Blanchery acquired two cornish and transported them from the British Isles to the United States. At the same time, one of the rexes (red color, also referred to as "tabby" or "tabby") never got offspring. The blue beauty named Lamorna Cove was more lucky: she arrived in America already practically pregnant and soon gave offspring in the person of two cornish rexes of blue and white color. It is noteworthy that the kittens' father was a long-suffering Englishman Poldu even before the ill-fated meeting with the vet's scalpel. With these charming babies, the breed began to spread throughout the United States.

The breeder Ellen Weiss could not resist the charm of Lamorna Cove's offspring, who acquired one of the kittens and named him Marmaduke. From him, many lines of American cornish later descended. Wanting to rise a step higher in the development of the breed, Weiss contacted the notorious Nina Ennismore, with whom she planned to conclude a lucrative deal and purchase more kittens for further breeding. However, by that time, Ennismore had already got rid of her pets and was forced to bite her elbows from her own short-sightedness: the amount offered by Ellen Weiss would more than compensate for any financial difficulties of the woman.

Once again, Cornish rexes have been threatened with extinction. In an attempt to prevent this, Diamond Lee crossed breeds with each other. Worthy genetic material for further breeding of cornish has become siamese , burmese and american shorthair cats . This experiment entailed minor changes in the appearance of the rexes, but at the same time gave them a huge variety of colors and colors. However, currently crossing this breed with others is strictly prohibited.

In 1983, the largest felinological organizations officially registered Cornish rexes. Now this breed is becoming increasingly popular due to its refined aristocratic image and inexhaustible love for its owners.

Video: Cornish Rex

Appearance of the Cornish rex

Despite the fact that the representatives of the breed look fragile and refined, in fact everything is completely different. Curly fur, resembling a velvet fabric to the touch, hides strong muscles and a strong backbone, while sharp claws and teeth are ready to fight with the offender. And the mass of animals is much larger than it seems: cats weigh from 4 to 5 kg, while cats – from 3 to 4 kg.

Cornish rex refers to short-haired breeds of medium and small size. At the same time, the American type looks more refined and easy in comparison with the English one.

Head and skull

For immigrants from the USA, an egg-shaped head is characteristic, while native Englishmen can boast of its more triangular shape. At the same time, the width and length of the head of both types of the breed are in the ratio 1:2. The skull is convex.

Muzzle

The muzzle of the Cornish rex resembles a small wedge in shape. The stop is moderately pronounced or even at all. The rounded forehead turns into a Roman-type nose, the tip of which is located on the same vertical line with a strong chin. High cheekbones are clearly defined.

Ears

Have a wide base and a cone-shaped shape. They are set relatively wide and at an average height. The tips of the ears are rounded, while the "triangles" themselves emphasize the wedge-shaped features of the muzzle.

Eyes

Oblique oval-shaped eyes are medium or large in size. They are located quite widely in relation to each other. The pigmentation of the iris is saturated and corresponds to the color of the animal.

Jaws and teeth

The jaws of the Cornish rex are unexpectedly powerful. The bite is straight or scissor-shaped, a weak bite is allowed. The front teeth of the animal form a line that is clearly visible when the rex's head is turned in profile. The upper and lower canines are arranged symmetrically, while the first ones are slightly deepened.

Neck

Elegant and moderately long neck has well-developed muscles.

Housing

Cornish Rex is the owner of a mobile and strong body. The body is slender and elongated, there is no hint of a cylindrical shape. The taut stomach slightly "falls in", which only emphasizes the arched back more strongly. Strong chest moderately broad. From certain angles, a slightly pronounced proportional waist is noticeable.

Tail

The thin tail of the animal is quite long and smoothly tapers to the tip. Mobility and flexibility gives it a resemblance to a whip.

Limbs

The fore and hind limbs of the Cornish rex are distinguished by thin bones that contrast with strong musculature. At the same time, the hind limbs are stronger, which allows the animal to make significant high jumps. The paws do not look massive, have well-developed and long fingers gathered in oval pads.

Wool cover

Silky and soft to the touch wool is the main asset of the Cornish Rex breed. Despite the absence of a strong guard hair, it fits snugly to the body and lies in uniform waves. At the same time, on the lower part of the chin, chest and belly of the cat, the hair is slightly shorter, but at the same time more curly.

Color

The color of the cornish rex can be absolutely any, both by the type of points and by the main color. Monochrome shade or classic tabby – the breed is really rich in all kinds of colors. Often there is a Siamese pattern. Individuals with this color are called "sea-rex".

Possible defects

Cornish Rex breed defects include:

• short tail (completely bald or very shaggy);
• stocky or massive build;
• excessively long or wide head;
• rare wool cover;
• bald areas of the body;
• small size of the ears.

Representatives of the breed may be disqualified on the following grounds:

• insufficiently velvety coat;
• the presence of a coarse guard hair;
• atypical number of fingers;
• pronounced tail fracture;
• amputated claws;
• deafness and/or lameness;
• undescended testicles.

Photo of Cornish rex

Character of the Cornish Rex

Are you repelled by the animal's resemblance to an unsociable bat or, even worse, an alien? Let this misconception sink into oblivion as soon as possible: the character of the Cornish Rex is truly unique and deserves your attention.

This breed is considered one of the most playful and active. Cornish rexes will never become sofa cushions: basking in the rays of the morning sun and only occasionally stretching in response to a call is not in the nature of these cats. Animals like to explore the territory (even if they have been familiar for a long time), so they will not ignore the clatter of dishes in the kitchen, nor a newspaper forgotten on the table, nor a pigeon sitting on the windowsill.

Any object that catches the eye of the corniche is automatically regarded as a toy, so try not to keep fragile and especially valuable things in sight. Ensure the "protection" of even the most remote shelves and cabinets, and even better – distract the pet's attention with a thrown ball or an interactive toy purchased in time. From recreating the pursuit of prey, cornish rexes are simply crazy!

The irrepressible attachment of the breed representatives to their master will make even the most callous person shed a stingy tear of emotion. These cats can be very annoying, constantly spinning underfoot and making themselves felt by affectionate meowing. However, at the same time, the animal will subtly feel the mood of a person and will give a long-awaited loneliness if he really wants it. In all other cases, you will not escape the fate of being loved to death. Butting, biting, licking, trampling – not the whole range of caresses that corniche bestow on their owners.

Representatives of this breed get along well with children, but do not feel enthusiastic about being in their company all the time. Of course, the animal will not show aggression to the child, but will prefer to disappear from sight as soon as the opportunity turns up.

Cornish rexes are wary of strangers and will not allow familiarity on their part. Keeping the distance is important for these animals; they are the first to begin to shorten it. As soon as cornish feels that there is no danger or threat coming from a person, he will gladly allow himself to be petted and even jump into his arms, saying something in the cat's language.

When getting Rex as a pet, be prepared for the fact that he can't stand being alone. Locked doors and your prolonged absence will force the animal to meow incessantly and look for any opportunity to throw out the accumulated energy, which, by the way, is fraught with unpleasant consequences. For this reason, try to leave the cornish in the company of another animal, but keep in mind that he may be jealous of the rest of the cats. It is not recommended to have decorative rodents and birds: this will awaken hunting instincts in the animal.

Cornish Rex is a breed characterized by gentleness and nobility. Nothing can drive an animal out of itself – except, perhaps, unpleasant hygiene procedures. Make sure in advance that an angry pet does not "reward" you with a couple of scratches in an attempt to dodge the claw.

Education and training

In the world of cat cornish rexes, they are reputed to be real intellectuals, so they are easily amenable to education, even being playful kittens.

As soon as the baby crosses the threshold of your house with his paws, draw a clear line between what can and cannot be done, and adhere to this requirement throughout the pet's life. At the same time, it is categorically not recommended to strictly punish Cornish for the slightest offense and raise his voice against him. To demonstrate discontent, it is enough to slap a newspaper on the floor not far from the animal, but in no case raise your hand to it. Otherwise, in the eyes of Cornish, you will look like a threat, and not a source of love and affection.

Armed with patience, you can easily teach a representative of this breed the basic "dog" commands: sit, lie down, meow and even give a paw. Often, rexes learn to bring a ball or other toy to the owner. These cats are calm about walking on a harness and in general, their behavior is more like dogs.

Cornish rexes perfectly understand the purpose of the tray and scratching post, so there will be no problems with maintaining the hygiene of the pet.

Care and maintenance

Representatives of this breed are not the most whimsical in care, however, here you can find your own nuances.

Since the wool cover of animals is characterized by the absence of a thick outer hair, skin secretions and sweat are not absorbed properly and thus cause the need for weekly bathing of the corniche. At the same time, it is recommended to use special soft shampoos, otherwise the pet's coat will lose its silkiness. After the bath procedures, wrap the cat tightly in a towel so that she does not catch a cold. At the same time, it is necessary to eliminate even the slightest draft for the sake of your pet's health.

Cornish rexes are not prone to frequent and abundant molting, so they get along well with people who suffer from allergies to wool. To remove dead hairs, you do not need to buy special devices: it is enough to walk over the animal's body with a wet patch of suede.

Representatives of this breed are famous for their small paws and therefore never hide their claws completely. If they do not wear off naturally, it's time to arm yourself with a claw cutter or buy a scratching post. To attract the pet's attention, you can spray it with valerian extract or decorate it with something.

Regularly inspect the eyes and ears of the corniche for any secretions, while not forgetting to wipe them daily with a cotton swab. For greater effect, you can moisten it with tea leaves. Please note that this procedure is especially disliked by all cornish, so in order to avoid problems, wait until your pet is in a playful and favorable mood. If the animal refuses to be handled, leave this matter to the veterinarian and wait for the cat to get used to the discomfort over time.

Oral care is also necessary. Once a month, you should brush your pet's teeth with a special paste. At the same time, make sweeping movements from the base to the edge of the tooth.

The active lifestyle of the Cornish rex is the main reason why he constantly feels hungry. It is highly not recommended to overfeed your pet, as this breed is prone to obesity. The daily allowance of elite feed is more than enough. At the same time, from time to time it is necessary to dilute the animal's diet with natural food. Ideally, you should adhere to a certain feeding regime, otherwise the pet will beg for a tasty morsel from you every now and then.

In no case treat the cornish rex:

• excessively salty and sweet foods;
• small and large bones;
• pork in any form;
• legumes;
• mushrooms and nuts;
• river fish;
• milk;
• liver.

As for drinking water, you should not "please" your pet with tap water, although this is the easiest option. Bottled water from underground sources will perfectly quench the thirst of the cornish rex, while not rewarding him with diseases. If you do not have the opportunity to constantly purchase bottled water, use water from the filter or wait until the tap water is infused in a tightly closed vessel for 7-8 hours.

Health and diseases of the Cornish rex

Representatives of this breed are characterized by good health and the absence of specific diseases. However, the corniche still has weaknesses. Among the most common diseases noted:

• impaired metabolism;
• retinal atrophy;
• "greasy tail";
• hypocalemia;
• alopecia.

In order to avoid health problems with your pet, it is necessary to visit a veterinarian regularly for a preventive examination. Timely vaccination (and it is permissible from the age of three months of the animal) is no less important. Paying due attention to the cornish rex, you will get a healthy and, most importantly, a happy pet who will often delight you with his antics.

How to choose a kitten

When going in search of a best friend, follow a simple rule: don't listen to anyone but yourself! The persistent recommendations of the breeder about which kitten should be purchased do not always have a positive background. Rely only on your own intuition and do not forget that Cornish rexes can choose their owner based on instincts.

Ideally, kittens are weaned from their mother at the age of 2.5 months. Otherwise, you risk acquiring a pet with unbalanced psychological and physical health.

It is undesirable to buy cornish rexes at the so-called bird markets: saving on the price of the animal in the future will result in huge costs for restoring the pet's well-being. The ideal place to purchase a kitten will be a nursery. Do not be afraid to seem intrusive to the breeder by asking questions: usually conscientious breeders are happy to talk about their wards and, at the first request, show a veterinary passport and other important documents.

When meeting kids, pay attention to their behavior. Have you marked the most active and cheerful? Take it: it's yours! But sluggish kittens who do not take part in the game with their brothers should be avoided: they are probably sick and will add a lot of trouble to you in the future.

Photos of Cornish rex kittens

How much does a cornish rex cost

"Kittens from the same litter should cost the same" – this is the main misconception of many. Unfortunately, this is not the case: the cost of a cornish rex is determined by its belonging to one of three classes:

• show (from $400 and above);
• breed (from $250 to $400);
• pet (from $100 to $250).

To participate in exhibitions and a possible victory at them, it is customary to buy show-class cornish rexes. Cats and cats of the breed category are intended for breeding and are therefore famous for their excellent pedigree. Pet-class animals are made for the soul. At the same time, the latter are often sold for castration, since they are not suitable for breeding due to certain breed defects. If you are not stopped by the wrong bend of the tail or the insufficiently refined physique of the cornish, opt for the pet category. It is more than enough to get a devoted and loving friend!